The Chevrolet Volt is the first and only extended range EV on the U.S. market today. The Volt has been in the spotlight recently after the NHTSA found that two of three vehicles caught fire after side impact testing. One of the vehicles that caught fire didn’t burst into flames until three weeks after the crash test. The other started sparking and smoking immediately after the test.

Understandably, GM is eager to get to the root of the problem with the Volt fires. GM's Mary Barra, VP of global product development for GM said, "I have engineers working shoulder-to-shoulder with the NHTSA engineers right now," said Mary Barra, vice president of global product development for GM. "We are looking to say, 'Are there some design changes that we can make — something more robust in this location or that location or this component?'"

However, the automaker does note that any changes would need to be rigorously tested both at GM and with outside sources.

GM also says that if the investigation determines that changes need to be made to the design of the battery packs, it will make those changes as quickly as possible. She also points out that there still isn't any indication of just how long the investigation into the fires will last.

GM's Mary Barra with a Chevrolet Cruze [Source: GM]

GM is taking the concerns of the roughly 6,000 Volt owners in the U.S. seriously and has offered to loan Volt owners a different vehicle until the investigating is completed. GM has also noted that if a Volt owner wanted to sell their Volt back to GM, it would buy the car back. Originally, it sounded like all the Volt owner had to do was ask and GM would buy their car back. Some statements that Barra made make it sound as though a buyback isn't a given in each case. Barra said, "First, we're going to have a conversation and understand their specific concern."

She added, "But if, as we go through that process, we get to a point where we think it's the right thing to do for that customer to protect the customer's satisfaction and show that General Motors puts the customers first, then that's what we'll do."

quote: but who cares if its range is 380 miles? You go to a gas station and fill up, and you're good to go, just like any other car.

Except the engine requires PREMIUM fuel and it's MPG is pretty shitty compared to ALL "economy" vehicles. Once the battery is depleted, that's it, the Volt's magic is gone and you're left with an expensive gas guzzler.

But hey, let's not have facts get in the way of your idealists notions about a vehicle. Are we still talking about a vehicle, or has the Volt become a religion now? You seem completely unable to concede that the Volt is a novelty item with SEVERE real-world drawbacks for most consumers.

In a society where people leave their own children in vehicles on 100+ degree days and only remember them when they're discovered dead? Hmmm well, I think MANY people will be forgetting to plug their Volt in every night lol.

But I agree that's not really a strong argument against the Volt. When there are SO many more fundamentally damning ones against it already.

We're not talking about the smoke and mirrors "combined" MPG. It's well known those EPA numbers are not representative of real world mileage! Like Motor Trend claiming the Volt got "134 MPG" which was later debunked. Or even worst, GM claiming the Volt got 240 MPG in testing. We're talking the MPG of JUST the ICE engine. Which is horrible AND requires expensive premium grade fuel.

quote: The OP complained that the range was a big drawback of the car - and I argued it was a non-issue.

And saying it's a "non-issue" is pure baloney. It's a MAJOR issue. I know in your world nobody ever drives more than 30 miles a day, but guess what, it happens. And when it does, the Volt is a gas guzzling $40k pig.

quote: It's well known those EPA numbers are not representative of real world mileage!

Your right, it is even better than advertised! Good summary from wired.com - not Fox News so sorry.....

quote: If you drive 45 miles between charges, meaning you’re doing about 10 miles with the gasoline assist, you’ll get 168 mpg. Drive 60 miles between charges and you’re looking at 89 mpg. Drive 75 miles between charges and you can expect 69 mpg. Of course, the typical driver will go all kinds of distances between charges, and the EPA’s got a number for that, too: 60 mpg equivalent “combined composite.” “Our overall combined average is 60 mpg,” said Doug Parks, Volt global vehicle line executive for the Volt. “That’s best in segment for compact cars.” At the bottom line, there’s something for everyone on this label. Volt fanboys will hail the 93 mpg equivalency under electric power. Critics will seize on the 35 mile range and 37 mpg figures. GM’s PR flacks undoubtedly are scratching their heads trying to figure out how to spin it all.

Oh and before I forget there are plenty of used 10 year old economy cars out there that get as good or better mileage than the Volt. Honda, Toyota, Ford, take your pick, all at a much better value than the Volt.

There is a Civic VX? Where did you get that Explorer again, is that a Ford.

And YES, on the flat and level I can get 45mpg if I want to do 50mph out of my Civic, but most likely on the freeways I drive on I will become a hood ornament for a tractor/trailer rig.

I just love the fact that when the Volt was announced it was going to be the car that would save GM and be the green car of the decade. The people at my office who have literally driven GM cars as rentals for years laughed and so far have not seen a reason to stop laughing.

There have been specific models that GM has come out with in the past several years that are OK, but it has proven with this car that typical GM either engineering, design or assembly is not up to par.

quote: I just love the fact that when the Volt was announced it was going to be the car that would save GM and be the green car of the decade

It's ultimate success will be decided in 2012 and 2013. It was never intended as a profit generator or a high volume seller in 2011. I would argue it has been a success so far because sales have been supply constrained but obviously you would disagree.

quote: but it has proven with this car that typical GM either engineering, design or assembly is not up to par.

quote: Because it doesn't have as much "value" as a 10-year old Honda?

That is a 12 year old Honda now and no the Volt doesn't have as much value for me personally. The beauty of buying a used good car is that yes they are cheaper and if you take care of it they will last as long as new. Insurance is cheaper, no car payments, etc... you get it.

I can't say never, but I probably will not buy new again, and yes I have a bias against GM. Long before GM became Government Motors or even had envisioned the Volt, I had driven hundreds of GM cars through Avis.

I would say that yes rentals get abused but it was never the older abused cars that were the worst, it was always the one with less than 100 miles on it. Had them strand me several times, once in a very dangerous situation, had things stop working (AC, lights, radio) and even had a couple that things literally fell off of them when I slammed the door (including the drivers side door due to bad welds it looked like).

So we know that there are people out there like yourself who like the Volt and think that it will sell in great numbers, but it is not for everybody. To much money, not enough car and that is based on the specs, don't need to drive one. Driven all kinds of cars from all over the world and this would be just another ho-hum experience.

I am also not convinced that Volt will sell in great number either for a couple of reasons, first, this is a boutique car, it is priced as such and it's target market is very small. Second it is GM, many people out there besides me have had bad experiences with the many brands and also the Feds bailing them out.

I will also point out that sales numbers do not seem to be increasing, but staying steady and for a premier of a new model that is not really a good thing.

The issue with the fires is singular to the Volt. The Nissan leaf had to go through the same crash tests and also has had several that have been involved in accidents on the road and we have not seen fires in them, as have the Teslas that are out there, so GM is to blame here no doubt. This is just another black eye for a car that was hyped to death.

quote: We're talking the MPG of JUST the ICE engine. Which is horrible AND requires expensive premium grade fuel.

quote: We're not talking about the smoke and mirrors "combined" MPG. It's well known those EPA numbers are not representative of real world mileage!

So say the EPA numbers are false, but offer no alternative, and imply that anecdotal evidence is somehow better than the only controlled standard for fuel economy in existence. You make dramatic claims (such as this one), reject all evidence of the contrary, and offer nothing to prove your point.

quote: And saying it's a "non-issue" is pure baloney. It's a MAJOR issue. I know in your world nobody ever drives more than 30 miles a day

Yeah, and then you start to use gasoline. When your tank is empty, you fill up, just like any other car.